Homework Kit

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In order to streamline homework at our home, this year I incorporated a homework kit into our routine.  It is simply a handled divided plastic bin.  Similar to those you may find at a dollar or discount store.  I got mine in the $1/$2.50 bin at Target.  For my First Grader it contains, crayons, washable markers, scissors, pencils, glue, tape, pencil sharpener, stapler and extra erasers.  Simply everything we may use on a regular basis while completing his assignments.

Now when it’s time for homework, my son simply grabs the entire bin and brings it to our designated homework spot for the day.  Since we have most everything that we should need to complete his assignments, it keeps him focused and on track with out getting up and down for needed materials.  When homework is complete, everything simply gets placed back in the bin and the entire bin gets tucked away in it’s designated home out of sight.

 

Additional ideas:  You may choose to decorate your bin with your child’s name, stickers, etc.  Or even allow your child a chance to decorate it themselves with some permanent markers and stickers.

As the school year proceeds, you may find additional items to add that you use frequently.

For older children you may find a need for more items, a stock of paper and more.  Consider a larger divided bin like the following.

The possibilities are limitless!

Making Back To School Special

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I certainly don’t always plan ahead.  I often have good intentions to make every occasion special in some way, but I will admit I too often procrastinate in execution.

Back to school is no exception.  Our son started back to school this week and I was determined to do something special for him…a little surprise for when he woke up for his first day.  Enter procrastination, followed by cramming mode at about 10PM the night before the big day.

Thanks to Pinterest, a little search quickly turned up these colorful and cute free back to school printable from The Sweetest Occasion.  Since I was short on time and on materials, I varied my use of the banner printable by cutting them out and inserting them into a poster size frame.  I typically use this frame for seasonal bucket lists and special occasion messages (birthday, holiday, etc), so how perfect it was to add a back to school message to the rotation of displays.  I added a colorful flag banner over the counter that I had picked up previously on clearance at Target…just enough color and fun to excite my newest first grader as he ate his breakfast before heading off for a new school year.

 

In addition, I wrote a special “Good Morning” message on my son’s bathroom mirror with dry erase marker.

Of course, we also commemorated the occasion with lots of photos:

  • Modeling new school clothes
  • With backpack and lunchbox
  • Holding a white board with Grade, Teacher, School and date
  • With siblings
  • With parents
  • Walking to bus stop
  • With bus stop friends
  • Boarding the bus
  • In front of school sign
  • Walking into school
  • In front of classroom
  • At desk in class
  • With teacher
  • With school friends

 

It was all a big hit and helped to get my little guy excited about going back to school.  He came home still just as excited.  I am hoping that is sign of a terrific year ahead.  However I will admit I already miss my little man and our summer family adventures.

Have Fun, Save Money When Traveling

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Most all of us like to save money yet sometimes we seem to forget to take our best savings practices along with us on vacation.  Maybe you already do these at home, but they pay back big on the road as well!

 

Scour Daily Deal Websites

Once you have decided on a travel destination, be sure to watch for money-saving offers in and near that city through the following money-saving websites:

Be sure to check multiple surrounding cities, and cities you may be traveling through. You can subscribe to that city’s daily deals by email or through their smart phone apps so you are certain not to miss something good. Remember some of these deals are only available for purchase for a very limited time, so be sure to note the date to purchase by as well as the date to use by. Always read the fine print for redemption restrictions such as day of week, time, etc.

 

Pre-buy Attraction Tickets

Many times you will find discounts when you purchase your tickets online. To find such discounts, try some of these simple tips:

  • Start out with the attraction’s official webpage, sometimes they have special promotions advertised
  • “Like” the attraction’s Facebook Page, often businesses offer promotions exclusive to their FB fans.
  • A simple Google search may turn up discounts and/or coupon codes for an attraction.
Once you find the best deals, purchase tickets and print them from home. I like to put these tickets right in the vehicle we are traveling in (we always travel by car) immediately so that they don’t get forgotten.

Bonus: Prebuying tickets not only has the potential to save money, it often saves time as well since you can skip the ticket window.

 

Saving on Eating Out

Similar to using the daily deal websites, be sure to check out Restaurant.com for restaurant deals in and near the cities you will traveling through and visiting. This website has discount codes VERY OFTEN!! so be sure to perform a Google search for discount codes and “Like” the Restaurant.com Facebook page since they are often posted there.

Be sure to note the restaurant deal fine print. They many limit usage to certain days, time, have minimum purchase requirements etc. The great thing about these certificates is that they never expires so they can be used on return trips or even gifted to your host if they end up unused.

 

Consider Memberships

Most zoos, aquariums, museums and theme parks offer an annual membership program.  Often these memberships will pay for themselves in as little as two visits.  So even if you are traveling, if you plan to spend more than one day or frequently return to the area, a membership may get you the most out of your money.

Additionally, many of these membership programs offer free admission or discounts at reciprocal organizations around the country, giving you even more bang for your membership buck.  If you have memberships to zoos, aquariums or museums in your area, be sure to check their website for reciprocal programs before you travel.  There may just be a participating facility in your vacation area!

Here are a couple reciprocal programs I have used in the past:

 

Pack your lunch

It’s not news to you that packing your lunch can save money, but sometimes that doesn’t seem as feasible when traveling.  However, even pre purchased Subway sandwiches taken along to a zoo, theme park and the like is a lot cheaper than buying your lunch there.  You can also consider frozen Make ahead PB&J Sandwiches.  Pair either with a can or two of Pringles (these are a fav for me to pack since they travel well without getting crunched up), some water or sports drink and you will be a lot farther ahead financially.

Instead of using traditional ice or ice packs, consider freezing bottles of water to keep your food cool.  After it thaws, you can enjoy the cold beverage.  Once your food and water are consumed, you have little stuff to cart around the rest of the day.  Use a soft collapsible cooler and you can fold it up and toss it in a diaper bag or backpack.

Always check ahead on the attraction’s website to find out if and what they allow you to bring inside as far as food and beverages.  Some may not allow any beverages but water, others may not allow glass containers, etc.

 

 

Happy Travels!!

Easy milk to go

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We do a lot of traveling, including annual road trips of 16-20 hours with the kids.  Since my daughter is a toddler who still prefers milk over other beverages, we have always traveled with a gallon of milk in a cooler.  An adult passenger would have the responsibility of pouring milk into a sippy cup on the go as needed.  It was always difficult to get the big carton of milk back into the cooler, it tended to spill thanks to all the bumps while riding down the road (stinky spilled milk…ugh!) and was simply a pain in the butt.  That is until our last big trip, at which time I had a new simple, inexpensive idea.

I recycled small Gatorade bottles into disposable milk containers!  Why didn’t I think of this before?

Here’s the details:

Once empty, I ran the bottle through the dishwasher and filled it with milk and sealed with the original cap.  Pack them in a cooler with ice along with your other goodies and beverages.

Once on the road, simply pull one container of milk from the cooler as needed.  I used the Sprout Spout topper which is a no spill lid you screw onto bottled beverages, making them similar to a sippy cup.  I ordered mine from Simply Good Stuff for about $6/set and they where shipped supper fast!  These tops are great and come in a variety of treads to fit different store bought beverage containers including water, juice and sports drinks.  These small Gatorade bottles use the green Sprout Spout adaptor.

The result?… much, much easier travels! Yay!  Just pull out one bottle when needed, screw on the top, drink and toss when done.  But make sure you don’t mistakenly toss your spout!!

 

Additional ideas:

I keep my set of spouts in my car along with a bottle of water.  I’m ready for spill free drinks for the kids any time on the go.  Use with the water or with juice or other drinks picked up on the go.

Make ahead PB&J sandwiches

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Let’s face it, making sandwiches for lunches isn’t real exciting.  Especially when you are tired as the end of the day or in a rush in the morning.  My newly adapted solution?…Make ahead, frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Similar to those mini sandwiches from the grocery store, only way less expensive!, These are great as we get in gear for the new school year.  If your school is nut free, consider a substitution or eliminate the peanut butter all together.  Not only are they great for school lunches, but also for your spouse’s lunch, and summer outings with the kids like the zoo, parks, pools etc.  They have been a staple for our summer activities!  I am not sure why I never thought of it before.

So, how does it work?

Well, I make up about 10 sandwiches at a time using one whole loaf of bread. Assemble with peanut butter and jelly as you normally would.  Add interest for the little ones with sandwich cutters.  I got these in the Target $1 bins this summer.  I have also found them at the dollar store.

Place each sandwich in a zip closure sandwich bag.  I get mine from the dollar store.

Then place them in the freezer until you need them.  I stack mine in a plastic IKEA container to maximize space and minimize smashing.

Simply take them out in the morning before you head out to work, school or family outing and they are thawed and ready by lunch time!  It’s that simple!

 

Additional idea:

The kids and I sometimes head out of town in the summer while the hubby has to stay behind to work.  I make sure the sandwich stash is stocked up before I leave town and he simply grabs two sandwiches every morning.  It keeps him out of the fast food drive thru while we are away 🙂